(This story was updated to correct a misspelling.)

Portland is the latest city to be awarded a WNBA franchise, the league announced Wednesday, and will begin play in 2026, bringing the total number of teams to 15.

The WNBA previously announced expansion franchises in the Bay Area (slated to begin play in 2025) and Toronto (2026).

Portland’s ownership group will be led by the Bhathal family, the same group that recently purchased the Thorns for $63 million after previous owner Merritt Paulson was widely criticized by the fanbase for his role in an abuse scandal. Raj Bhathal is co-owner of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings.

‘As the WNBA builds on a season of unprecedented growth, bringing a team back to Portland is another important step forward,’ WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement. ‘Portland has been an epicenter of the women’s sports movement and is home to a passionate community of basketball fans. Pairing this energy with the Bhathal family’s vision of leading top-flight professional sports teams will ensure that we deliver a premier WNBA team to the greater Portland area.’

Engelbert has said she wants to get to 16 teams eventually, but no one is sure how soon the next franchise will be announced. A variety of cities, including Boston, Philadelphia, Nashville and Denver, among others, are reportedly in contention to be the 16th WNBA team for a league that, until it announced the Bay Area team last October, hadn’t expanded since 2008. 

Details about the coming expansion drafts – one is expected at the end of this year and one next year – are still to be announced. 

The WNBA has experienced an unprecedented boost in popularity this season, led by rookie sensations Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, who have helped shatter previous records for TV viewership, attendance and merchandise sales. In July, the league announced a new 11-year media rights deal worth a reported $2.2 billion.

Clark and the Indiana Fever already have secured a spot in the 2024 playoffs – Indiana’s first postseason appearance since 2016 – while Reese’s Chicago Sky are fighting for the eighth and final spot. Reese announced on Sept. 8 she would miss the remainder of the season after sustaining a left wrist injury that will require surgery. Clark, meanwhile, is favored to win 2024 Rookie of the Year honors. 

In Portland, the WNBA is choosing to go back to a city it previously tried to succeed in. The Portland Fire lasted just three seasons in the Rose City from 2000-02, compiling a record of 37-59. The team never made the playoffs.

But things are very different now compared to then. The NWSL’s Portland Thorns routinely draw sellout crowds, and have been one of the league leaders in attendance for years. Just a couple hours down I-5, top 25 programs Oregon and Oregon State both boast loyal fan bases and recent Final Four trips (Oregon in 2019, Oregon State in 2016).

‘For decades, Portland has been the global epicenter of sports lifestyle and today, we are now the global epicenter of women’s sports,’ Lisa Bhathal Merage said in a statement. ‘We believe in the transformative power of women’s sports and are thrilled that the W will call Portland home. We know that Portland’s vibrant and diverse communities will highly support and rally around this team. Our goal is to grow this organization in partnership with the Portland community and we look forward to supporting the best women’s basketball players in the world when they take the floor at the Moda Center in 2026.’

Phoenix Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts, a longtime assistant with the Portland Trail Blazers, told reporters that Portland is ‘a great basketball city … that would be awesome to see a W franchise in Portland for sure.’

Women’s sports, led by women’s basketball specifically, are exploding across the country. TV viewership for both the NCAA women’s tournament and WNBA has soared the past few seasons, with millions tuning in to watch a new generation of talent. In February 2022, Engelbert announced a capital raise of $75 million, then the largest-ever in women’s sports. The money was slated to be used for marketing and elevating the league’s brand. 

And the NWSL shows there is interest from investors. The league is now at 14 teams with the addition of Bay Area and Utah this season, and a Boston franchise will begin play in 2026.

The WNBA last added a team in 2008, when Atlanta joined. Only four franchises remain from the inaugural eight-team league that launched in 1997, with financial backing from the NBA: The New York Liberty, Los Angeles Sparks, Phoenix Mercury and Las Vegas Aces (originally known as the Utah Starzz, and previously under different ownership). 

Nail-biting games and allegations of favoritism were the main topics of conversation as Jason and Travis Kelce rolled out the latest edition of their ‘New Heights’ podcast.

Both NFL games involving the Kelces went down to the wire and were decided by one point. And both also had their fair share of controversy – whether it was on a game-changing call by the officials or a questionable play call by the coaches.

On the podcast, the Kelce brothers weighed in on the NFL weekend and addressed social media criticism that referees are biased in favor of Travis’ two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs and that ESPN seemed to be playing favorites as newly retired Jason returned to Philadelphia.

Travis Kelce on Chiefs’ win: ‘Did we get lucky? Yeah’

Kansas City’s dramatic 26-25 victory Sunday over the Cincinnati Bengals was decided by Harrison Butker’s field goal as time expired.

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But the Chiefs wouldn’t have been in position for the game-winner if not for a critical pass interference call on Bengals defensive back Daijahn Anthony on 4th and long with just 48 seconds to play. That gave the Chiefs a first down and spurred a new round of opposing fans blaming referees for helping Kansas City win.

‘Nobody likes a fourth down conversion that is essentially given to the Chiefs, but the reality is, what do you want the official to do?’ Jason asked. ‘When it’s close, I get not calling it. This wasn’t close.’

Five plays and two timeouts later, Butker nailed a 51-yarder for the win.

‘Did we get lucky? Yeah we got fortunate that they threw the flag on that 4th and 16,’ Travis admitted, but he also pointed out that both teams had opportunities to make plays long before that call.

‘At the end of the day, you can’t put it in the ref’s hands that late in the game. If you’re gonna put it in the ref’s hands, you’re playing with fire.’

Jason Kelce’s return to Philly

In the final game of Week 2, Jason Kelce returned to the city where he spent 13 seasons as an anchor on the Philadelphia Eagles offensive line.

After retiring this offseason, he joined ESPN’s ‘Monday Night Countdown’ crew, and the network was happy to chronicle all the fun he had.

‘It was (expletive) awesome,’ Jason gushed about his chance to tailgate with Eagles fans and reunite with former teammates Nick Foles and Fletcher Cox before the game.

When Travis teased him about his dance moves, saying he had to have been drunk, Jason countered that he was, in fact, ‘stone-cold sober.’ Partly because he still had broadcasting work to do.

In addition to his pregame analysis, Jason also made it up to the ‘Monday Night Football’ broadcast booth to help break down the play he helped make famous in Philly: The short-yardage ‘Tush Push.’

Taking advantage of Kelce’s intimate knowledge of his former team took some of the attention away from the visiting Atlanta Falcons, something Jason admitted was due to his role in the storyline.

‘I really wanted to offer unbiased opinions for the Falcons,’ he said, ‘… but this was really cool to be back in Philadelphia. This is probably the one chance I got to solidify my retirement as a player.’

That game also came down to the final seconds after the Eagles – leading by three points – failed to convert a crucial third down inside the Falcons’ 5-yard line when a wide open Saquon Barkley dropped an easy pass from quarterback Jalen Hurts.

Jason refused to second-guess the Eagles’ play call, even with the Falcons out of timeouts.

‘That’s only going to be thrown if it’s wide open, which it was,’ he said. ‘It was the perfect play call. The percentage chance that a wide-open pass to Saquon Barkley is getting dropped like that, I just think that’s got to be pretty low.’

But the resulting field goal gave Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins a chance to drive him team down the field for the go-ahead touchdown with 34 seconds left.

‘Kirk Cousins,’ Travis said, ‘showed everybody why Atlanta paid him $180 million.’

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1. The Texas football QB decision

It’s not a matter of if Arch Manning is going to play well. It’s how good it will look if and when he does again.

And how it could change the dynamic of the quarterback position for Texas, which is ranked No. 2 in the US LBM Coaches Poll.

When starter Quinn Ewers left last weekend’s game against Texas-San Antonio with an oblique injury, it opened a door that every red-blooded college football fan wildly ran through. Manning, the No.1 recruit from the 2023 recruiting class with the famous last name, finally got his chance.

Then played like every other Manning in this sport since the 1960s. Like a rock star.

Suddenly, Manning is the only thing that could keep Ewers from the Heisman Trophy. Hyperbole? Probably.

But we’re not that far from Texas coach Steve Sarkisian being forced to make a decision between the two quarterbacks. Ewers is listed as ‘day to day,’ according to Sarkisian, and the injury is, essentially, wait and see. Like all oblique injuries. 

These injuries are some of the most difficult to assess and treat. Every injury is different (Sarkisian says Ewers’ injury is an “abdomen strain”), and everyone heals differently. 

Now let me reintroduce JT Daniels, the former Georgia quarterback and Heisman Trophy favorite (sound familiar?) who sustained an oblique injury in Week 2 of the 2021 season. Daniels was considered week-to-week with his injury. 

He wasn’t cleared to play again until late October, and by that time, a spunky backup named Stetson Bennett took over and eventually won two consecutive national titles.  

This, of course, leads us to the Manning Problem. 

2. Oklahoma and Georgia are waiting

Even if Ewers returns this week, or if he only misses one or both of the next two cakewalk games (Louisiana-Monroe and Mississippi State), the nature of the injury is the issue. 

Soft tissue injury rehabilitation is tenuous at best. From hamstring injuries, to quadriceps and biceps and pectoral strains, they all live in the same, frustrating, week to week clearance status — and all have a higher instance of re-injury without sustained rest.  

That uncertainty brings into play the most important two-game stretch of the season for Texas: Oklahoma (Oct. 12) and Georgia (Oct. 19). The same Oklahoma that has won two of the last three over Texas, and the same Georgia and its (growing by the week) SEC record 28 consecutive SEC wins. 

And now, the Manning Problem. 

Let’s say Manning plays and does what many expect, putting up big numbers and keeping the Texas train humming toward a potential SEC championship and No.1 seed in the College Football Playoff. 

Then what? Once Stetson Bennett replaced Daniels — and played at a high level — there was no chance Georgia coach Kirby Smart was moving back to Daniels. He rode the hot hand.

There’s also the possibility that if Ewers doesn’t play and Manning isn’t ready for the moment, Texas loses a game or two — and its CFP hopes are seriously damaged by mid-October.

But it doesn’t sound like Sarkisian is worried about that.

‘We expose (Manning) to so much that I don’t feel like I’m handcuffed when Arch is in the game,’ he said. 

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3. The Manning Problem, The Epilogue

We all knew this was coming. It’s the tenuous nature of the most important position on the field, and the growing empirical evidence about the rise of quarterback injuries.

And then there’s Ewers’ injury history.

Two years ago, he missed three and a half games with a collarbone injury. Last year, he missed two games with an injury to his throwing shoulder. 

In fact, Ewers only played one full season in high school. On track record alone, it was only a matter of time before Manning got his opportunity. 

Sarkisian went from the perfect quarterback room — a Heisman Trophy frontrunner and an uber-talented backup willing to wait his turn — to an interesting potential quarterback quandary. He could eventually have to make a decision between the quarterback who got him to the CFP last season and was playing at a high level before the injury, or the quarterback who just wanted an opportunity and got it.

Then seized the moment.

It’s a delicious dilemma. A blessing and a curse. 

4. Michigan football: consequences of bad decisions

So QB Davis Warren is struggling and the offense is predictable, and Michigan is 99th in the nation in scoring (23.3 ppg.) and as exciting as a hangover. 

This is surprising to no one who paid attention to the Michigan roster. 

New coach Sherrone Moore had an opportunity this offseason to sign a quarterback from the transfer portal, but instead stood with a quarterback room that had a combined 37 pass attempts at Michigan. Three games into the season, Warren – who had 14 of those attempts over three previous seasons – has already been benched.

I know this is going to shock everyone, but a career backup given the starting job at a major program has two touchdown passes and six interceptions in three games.

It should come as no surprise then, that Alex Orji is the new starter at Michigan. The same Orji who has been more of a situational run-game quarterback since he arrived at Michigan in 2022.

The pass offense, despite playing two Group of Five games (Fresno State and Arkansas State), is 121st in the nation going into Saturday’s Big Ten opener against No. 12 Southern California, and the Wolverines are on the verge of losing their second game in four under Moore.

After losing two in the previous 30 under former coach Jim Harbaugh. 

5. The Weekly Five: Georgia finds a way

The last five Georgia games vs. Kentucky in Lexington under Kirby Smart, won by a combined 42 points.

2024: 13-12, Kentucky had the ball at midfield with four minutes to play.

2022: 16-6, Kentucky didn’t score until midway through fourth quarter.

2020: 14-3, Kentucky’s final four drives: fumble, punt, downs, end of game.

2018: 34-17, only rout of the series.

2016: 27-24, Georgia hit a game-winning field goal as time expired.

6. Scout’s view: Bowling Green TE Harold Fannin Jr.

An NFL scout analyzes a draft eligible player. This week: Bowling Green TE Harold Fanning Jr. (The scout requested anonymity to protect the team’s draft preparations.)

“His length and catch radius is impressive. He’s listed at (6-feet-4) 230 pounds, but plays a lot bigger. He’s not an in-line tight end, but he’s not getting blown off the point of attack, either. A sneaky good run blocker. Watch the Penn State game. His athleticism is freaky, and he’ll fit perfectly in vertical offenses in our league.”

7. Power play: Alabama rising

This week’s College Football Playoff Poll, and one big thing.

1. Texas: Even an injury to the starting quarterback doesn’t slow the momentum.

2. Ohio State: Two cupcake games to start, an open week, and Marshall up next. Yawn.

3. Miami: They’ve opened the upper deck at Raymond James Stadium for South Florida, expecting a large crowd with Miami’s arrival.  

4. Oklahoma State: Big 12 opener against Utah, and first big test for QB Alan Bowman.

5. Alabama: Two weeks of preparation for Georgia, which Tide has beaten eight of the last nine meetings by an average of 11.3 ppg.

6. Georgia: When motivated, this is the best team in the nation. 

7. Ole Miss: It all looks nearly perfect against the overmatched. 

8. Tennessee: Nothing like coach Josh Heupel returning to alma mater Oklahoma with the hottest offense in the nation.

9. Southern California: It all feels and looks good. Let’s see it in a difficult environment at Michigan. 

10. Missouri: Sneaky games (Boston College and Vanderbilt) don’t trip elite teams.

11. Oregon: Ducks reset against rival Oregon State, still have questions on the O-line.

12. Memphis: Tigers physically stood up to Florida State, and QB Seth Henigan is a difference-maker. 

8. Mail bonding: The new Pac-12

Matt: I’m thrilled that the Pac-12 is finally fighting back and trying to stay alive. Where does the conference go for future additions? — Jeff Donald, Tucson, Arizona.

Jeff: 

The problem: UNLV still is holding out hope for an offer from the Big 12.

There are politics involved, and the state of Nevada doesn’t want UNLV to leave without Nevada to any conference. There’s also the value aspect of UNLV: does it add value to the Big 12, and will Fox and ESPN give the Big 12 money to add another program that historically doesn’t draw good numbers — but is a booming market of potential?

Let’s say the Pac-12 moves to nine teams (the preferred model), leaving three spots available. The fiscally prudent move is to add another time zone to expand television reach (West Coast, Mountain and Central times zones), and that means Memphis and Tulane. 

The Pac-12 could do a lot worse than UNLV, Memphis and Tulane to complete the league. 

9. Numbers game: Josh Heupel and quarterbacks

Forget about the looming story that Heupel still is upset about getting fired from his alma mater (how could he not?), and focus on the reaction. Because that’s all that matters after the firing, in sports or life. 

How do you respond?

In the 10 years since Heupel’s firing as Oklahoma offensive coordinator, his quarterbacks at Utah State (OC/QB coach), Missouri (OC/QB coach), UCF and Tennessee have a combined TD/INT ratio of – are you ready for this? – 288/67. 

If you eliminate this current partial season (8 TD, 3 INT), Heupel’s quarterbacks have averaged 31 TDs and 7 INTs a season since he was fired at Oklahoma. And just for good measure: Heupel’s quarterbacks have also rushed for 57 touchdowns over the last 10 seasons.

That’s 345 total touchdowns in 74 games, for an average of 4.6 a game. 

10. The last word: Florida State’s slide

Just in case anyone believes, beyond doubt, that this is the week Florida State gets off the mat, consider this:

California, this week’s opponent in Tallahassee, is giving up 288.7 yards and 12.3 points per game. The Bears also lead the nation in turnovers forced (10), and already have one Power Five road win (Auburn) in a difficult environment.

Meanwhile, I give you Florida State QB D.J. Uiagalelei: 1 TD, 2 INT, completing 57 percent of his passes, and has 23 carries for -14 yards.

The floor exercise final at the Paris Olympics was even more screwed up than already known.

Video submitted Monday as part of Jordan Chiles’ appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal indicates a scoring inquiry for Simone Biles’ routine in the floor final was never registered, likely costing the Olympic champion another gold medal. Biles won the silver medal, finishing just 0.033 points behind Rebeca Andrade of Brazil.

“Honestly not a big deal for me, Rebeca had a better floor anyways,” Biles said Tuesday, adding a hand-heart emoji, after someone on X, formerly Twitter, pointed out issues with the inquiries for both Biles and Jordan Chiles.

“Upsetting how it wasn’t processed but I’m not mad at the results.”

Biles’s 14.133 in the floor final included a 6.9 for difficulty. Had she gotten full credit for her split leap, however, it would have given her an additional 0.10 in difficulty and a 14.233. That would have put her ahead of Andrade, who scored a 14.166.

But in the video submitted with Chiles’ appeal, Biles asks coach Cecile Landi, “Is he asking?” Landi replies, “He said he did.” After Laurent Landi, Landi’s husband and co-coach, says several things in French, Cecile Landi turns to Biles and says, “They didn’t send it,” and raises her arms in a gesture of helplessness.

Landi then asks her husband, “What about Jordan? You want to try?”

The video was provided to Chiles by director Katie Walsh and production company Religion of Sports, who received special permission to film in Bercy Arena as part of Biles’ latest documentary project, ‘Simone Biles: Rising.’ The first two episodes of the docuseries were released on Netflix prior to the 2024 Paris Olympics and two more are still to come later this year.

Landi did submit an inquiry for Chiles, saying Chiles did not get full credit for her split leap. A review panel agreed, increasing Chiles’ score by 0.10 points and giving her the bronze medal ahead of Romania’s Ana Barbosu.

Romania appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, claiming Chiles’ scoring inquiry was not made in time. CAS agreed, citing data from Omega showing the inquiry was registered four seconds too late, and ordered the results of the floor final to be changed. As a result, Chiles was stripped of her bronze medal on the final day of the Paris Olympics.

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But the rules say Chiles had 60 seconds to make a verbal inquiry, not that the inquiry had to be registered within 60 seconds. During the CAS hearing last month, the FIG acknowledged there were no mechanisms in place to record when verbal inquiries were received.

In the time-stamped video, however, Landi clearly says, “Inquiry for Jordan,” twice before the 60 seconds have elapsed.

That Chiles was wrongly denied the bronze medal seemed to bother Biles a lot more than her not having another gold medal.

“BUT JUSTICE FOR JORDAN,” the seven-time Olympic champion said Tuesday in her post on X, adding four emojis of a person speaking. “ya hear me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

ABC’s ‘Dancing with the Stars’ is now in its 33rd season since premiering in 2005.

Many personalities from the entertainment, sports and political world have competed for the Mirrorball trophy, and this season is no exception, with four athletes signing up to show their skills on the dance floor.

Current and former athletes Dwight Howard, Danny Amendola, Stephen Nedoroscik and Ilona Maher will all try to become the 13th athlete to win the competition.

Season 33 premiered on Tuesday night, and next week, there will be a double elimination round in which two of the 13 contestants will be voted off.

Athletes competing on Dancing with the Stars this season

Dwight Howard, former NBA center

Howard played 18 seasons in the NBA, during which time he was an eight-time All-Star, three-time Defensive Player of the Year and five-time All-NBA First Team selection.

Danny Amendola, former NFL receiver

Amendola played for five NFL teams during his career, most notably the New England Patriots, where he won two Super Bowl championships.

Stephen Nedoroscik, Olympic gymnast

Nedoroscik is best known as the ‘pommel horse guy’ for his performance in the 2024 Paris Olympics. He won two bronze medals for the United States in the men’s artistic team all-around and the pommel horse.

Ilona Maher, Team USA rugby player

Maher, who is known for throwing devastating stiff arms during her rugby play, helped the United States win the first-ever Olympic medal in the sport, taking home the bronze.

Athletes to win Dancing with the Stars

Emmitt Smith, Pro Football Hall of Fame running back, season 3

Apolo Ohno, Olympic gold medal-winning speed skater, season 4

Hélio Castroneves, four-time Indianapolis 500 winner, season 5

Kristi Yamaguchi, Olympic gold medal-winning figure skater, season 6

Shawn Johnson, Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast, season 7

Hines Ward, former NFL receiver and Super Bowl champion, season 12

Donald Driver, former NFL receiver and Super Bowl champion, season 14

Meryl Davis, Olympic gold medal-winning ice dancer, season 18

Laurie Hernandez, Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast, season 23

Rashad Jennings, former NFL running back, season 24

Adam Rippon, Olympic bronze medal-winning figure skater, season 26

Iman Shumpert, former guard and NBA champion, season 30